The Saints release their first injury report Wednesday. Not surprisingly, the Saints headed into the 2015 regular season still trying to figure out their exact identity, on both sides of the ball.
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The dome sprung leaks everywhere Sunday. The Saints also dropped their two preseason games played at home this summer.
Even the star of last resort, one of the last refugees from the 2009-10 Super Bowl champions, seems like he is throwing into hurricane force winds. Tampa Bay did just that on Sunday.
Andrews was the surgeon who performed major reconstructive shoulder surgery on Brees in the offseason before the quarterback signed with the Saints in 2006.
“Maybe on a few throws”, Brees said Sunday about his shoulder.
At 36 years old, it is fair to wonder if Brees will be able to come back from a second serious shoulder injury. “It should’ve been a touchdown”.
Brees had a hard time with throws down the field, but still managed to get the team in position to pull out the win until a late missed field goal and blocked extra point kept it from getting tied at 23. Those flaws will continue to show up throughout the year, and there will undoubtedly be some games where they lead to a loss.
–RB Doug Martin started strong with 44 yards on seven carries in the first half, including a 20-yard run on the first series.
“We were averaging a little over a yard a carry in the first quarter”, Saints coach Sean Payton said.
“Everybody’s dealing with something”, Brees said. Defensive end Cam Jordan came close to sacking Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, but never actually did it. As a result, Palmer extended plays and found receivers who eventually got open. “No real rhythm was ever found”. He ended last season that way which does not offer much confidence to fans since the Saints were not good last season. Two Bucs’ fumbles in the fourth quarter gave the Saints (0-2) a chance to get back in the game. Austin Johnson would wind up bringing the ball across the line but couldn’t convert the two point conversion as they were now down 23-13 and needed to get something going.
The Saints then went to the running game on their next drive as they were struggling through the passing game. They were called the ultimate dome team.
Their defense started to make some plays though. “The advantage you can have of playing at home here and the history of playing here and all those other things”.
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The Houston Texans along with J.J. Watt will present a new set of problems for Winston next week, but his play in New Orleans was a good bounce-back from his performance against Tennessee.
